Best Practices Guidelines

for
Self-Consolidating Concrete

Prepared by Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario – January 2009

 Best Practices Guidelines for
Self-Consolidating Concrete

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is Self-Consolidating Concrete? ....................................................................................3

How to Utilize SCC Effectively on Your Projects .....................................................................3

Selection Process for SCC Applications ...................................................................................3

Engineering Properties of SCC ................................................................................................3

Test Methods for Evaluating SCC............................................................................................4

SCC Production Requirements ................................................................................................6

Site Preparation Requirements for SCC ..................................................................................7

SCC Placing & Finishing ...........................................................................................................9

SCC Appearance and Surface Finish .....................................................................................11

Sustainable Construction Considerations ............................................................................14

References ............................................................................................................................14

Appendix A – Full Size VSI Pictures .......................................................................................15

Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario

365 Brunel Road, Unit 3, Mississauga, ON L4Z 1Z5
905-507-1122 Fax 905-890-8122
info@rmcao.org www.rmcao.org

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 2

WHAT IS SELF-CONSOLIDATING CONCRETE?
Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC), also referred to as self-
compacting concrete, is able to flow and consolidate on its
own. At the same time it is cohesive enough to fill spaces of
almost any size and shape without segregation or bleeding.
This makes SCC particularly useful wherever placing is
difficult, such as in heavily reinforced concrete members or
in complicated formwork.
This technology, developed in Japan in the 1980s, is based
on increasing the amount of fine material without changing
the water content compared to conventional concrete. This
changes the rheological behaviour of the concrete and
produces the outstanding flow characteristics that are
required for production.
SCC is highly flowable, non-segregating concrete that can
spread into place under its own weight to fill formwork and
encapsulate extremely congested reinforcing steel, with
little or no mechanical vibration. SCC’s unique properties
give it significant economic, constructability and aesthetic
performance on conventional construction projects. SCC
allows for rapid concrete placement with significantly
reduced labour requirements, consolidation and finishing.
The outstanding flow characteristics of SCC can also result
in dramatically improved surface finishes. Its use for
architectural applications is increasing significantly.
HOW TO UTILIZE SCC EFFECTIVELY ON YOUR
PROJECTS
While SCC has been commercially available for over 10
years in the Ontario marketplace, some owners,
consultants and contractors have yet to utilize this product
on their own projects. Since SCC has such dramatically
improved placement and finishing properties, there is a
need for new users to spend some time becoming familiar
with the product prior to concrete placement.
Some key areas that will be addressed by this document
include:
Selection Process for SCC Applications
Engineering Properties of SCC
Test Methods for Evaluating SCC
SCC Production Requirements
Site Preparation Requirements for SCC
SCC Placing & Finishing
SCC Appearance and Surface Finish
SELECTION PROCESS FOR SCC APPLICATIONS
While it is possible for Consultants and Owners to specify
the use of SCC directly in their tender documents, this
product has also often been selected for use by the
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
contractor due to the dramatically increased performance
and production efficiencies that can be achieved.
From a constructability standpoint SCC offers the following
key benefits:
Elimination of the need for internal vibration of
the concrete
Extreme ease of placement and flowability
Ability to fully encapsulate heavily congested
reinforcing steel applications
Rapid rate of concrete placement
Significant reduction in concrete placement crew
sizes
Dramatically improved concrete surface finish
Excellent durability properties with a low W/CM
ratio and potential for high early strength
development
Reduction of on-site noise to address local by-laws
or community concerns
These significant performance improvements with SCC also
create some new constructability issues for both specifiers
and contractors that must be considered and planned, for a
smooth transition into this product’s use. The remainder of
this guide attempts to address these new constructability
issues and to provide general guidance for the effective use
of SCC on projects.
ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SCC
Self-Consolidating Concrete and conventional concrete that
is vibrated to properly consolidate have similar
compressive strength and performance properties. While
compressive strength is the most common property used in
concrete evaluations, there are other important material
properties that need to be considered. The typical
performance properties include:
Compressive Strength – SCC will typically have a
slightly higher compressive strength when
compared to a conventional concrete of similar
w/cm ratio. This is due to the improved interface
between the aggregate and the hardened paste.
3
Tensile Strength – For a given concrete strength
and maturity the tensile strength can normally be
assumed to be the same as conventional concrete.
This is due to the fact that the paste volume has
no significant impact on tensile strength.
Modulus of Elasticity – The modulus of elasticity is
often the controlling parameter in slab design and
post tensioned concrete elements. Since the bulk
of the concrete is aggregate, the aggregate
modulus of elasticity has the most impact on this
value. However, the increased volume of paste in
SCC can decrease this value slightly.
Creep – Is the gradual increase in deformation
with time under a constant applied stress. Creep
takes place in the cement paste and is influenced
by porosity, w/cm ratio, type of cement, and
volume of aggregate available to restrain the
creep. Due to the higher volume of cement paste
in SCC, creep is expected to be higher than
conventional concrete.
Shrinkage – Shrinkage is the sum of autogenous
(during hydration) and drying shrinkage (loss of
moisture over time). SCC mixes typically exhibit
similar shrinkage characteristics to conventional
concrete mixes.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion – Coefficient of
thermal expansion of concrete varies with its
composition, age and moisture content. SCC
typically exhibits similar properties to
conventional concrete.
Bond to Reinforcement – Reinforced concrete
design is usually based upon the assumption of an
effective bond between the rebar and the
concrete. The effectiveness of this bond is
affected by the position of the reinforcing steel
and the quality of the concrete. While SCC bond
strength is typically assumed to be higher than
conventional concrete, this increase in bond is
typically not considered in the design of the
structure.
Durability – The durability of a concrete structure
is closely associated to the permeability of the
surface layer of the concrete, with lower
permeability resisting the inflow of CO2, chlorides,
sulphates, water, oxygen, etc. Improper
consolidation of conventional concrete results in
significant durability loss which is one of the
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
primary advantages of SCC (hence its original
development in Japan). For this reason, the
durability of SCC is expected to be equal to or
greater than conventional concrete.
TEST METHODS FOR EVALUATING SCC
The majority of concrete produced in Ontario has
specification requirements that are governed by the
Ontario Building Code and CSA A23.1/.2 Concrete Materials
and Methods of Concrete Construction/Methods of Test
and Standard Practices for Concrete. The CSA A23.1/.2
standard includes the basic and advanced test methods
that can be used for evaluation and acceptance of SCC on
construction projects. The only exceptions to the existing
CSA A23.1/.2 testing requirements relate to the
preparation of concrete samples. SCC, unlike conventional
concrete, does not require internal consolidation (rodding)
when preparing samples since the primary purpose of this
consolidation is to remove entrapped air from the samples.
In fact the rodding of SCC is more likely to result in
segregation of the concrete, rather than providing a
properly consolidated concrete sample for testing
purposes. For this reason the standard concrete
consolidation methods do not apply to SCC (i.e. cylinder
moulds are filled in one lift rather than three without any
rodding, plastic air tests are conducted by filling the air
meter bucket in one lift without any consolidation, etc.).
The SCC evaluation and acceptance process is typically
broken down into the following two phases: pre-
qualification testing acceptance (if necessary) and jobsite
product evaluation.
The pre-qualification testing and acceptance process can
include the following components:
Submission of a performance based mix design
which identifies all of the structural and
constructability properties of the concrete
Documentation of past SCC performance on
completed projects
Any specified prequalification testing. This may
include:
o Slump flow test results & Visual Stability
Index (VSI) evaluation
o T50cm Time
o V-Funnel test
o J-Ring test
o L-Box test
o Column Segregation test
4
Jobsite product evaluation typically consists of:
Conducting slump-flow tests to confirm the plastic
properties of the product.
Conducting Visual Stability Index (VSI) evaluations
of the product.
Conducting typical hardened property testing
(strength evaluation, permeability, etc.).

The various SCC test methods that can be used to evaluate

the product during the prequalification and jobsite
acceptance periods are:

Slump Flow – This test method evaluates the

ability of the SCC to flow under its own weight in
an unconfined condition. This test method
involves filling an inverted slump cone full of SCC
without consolidating the material on a non-
absorbent rigid surface, lifting the slump cone and
measuring the diameter of the resulting “SCC
patty” that is formed. This is usually the primary
acceptance test method used on the jobsite and
CSA A23.1/.2 requires a slump flow value between
500 – 800 mm. This test method is used for jobsite
acceptance.
VSI values of 0 or 1 indicate acceptable SCC. VSI
values of 3 clearly indicate SCC that should be
rejected. VSI values of 2 indicate that the concrete
is unstable and the mix design should be
immediately modified to obtain a VSI value of 0 or
1 (i.e. site addition of viscosity modifying
admixtures, etc.). See Appendix A for full size VSI
pictures.

T50cm Value – The T50cm value is recorded during

the slump flow test by pre-marking a 50 cm
Visual Stability Index (VSI) – The stability of self-
diameter circle on the non-absorbent rigid surface
consolidating concrete can be assessed by visually
and using a stopwatch to record the amount of
evaluating the distribution of the coarse aggregate
time that is required for the concrete to reach this
within the concrete mass after the spreading of
diameter. This test method provides additional
the concrete has stopped. Typically once the
information regarding the segregation resistance
slump flow test has been completed, a visual
and uniformity of the SCC. This test method also
stability index value is assigned to the concrete.
provides information on the viscosity of the
The VSI values range from 0 to 3 and are defined
product. This test method can be used for jobsite
as follows:
acceptance.
o 0 = Highly Stable – No evidence of
segregation or bleeding.
V-Funnel Test – This test method is used to
o 1 = Stable – No evidence of segregation
measure the flowability and dynamic stability of
and slight bleeding observed as a sheen
the SCC mixture. The test consists of a V-shaped
on the concrete mass.
funnel capable of
o 2 = Unstable – A slight mortar halo (≤ 10
holding 12 litres of SCC
mm) and/or aggregate pile in the centre
and equipped with a
of the concrete mass.
gate on the bottom of
o 3 = Highly Unstable – Clearly segregated
the device. The funnel is
by evidence of a large mortar halo (≥ 10
filled with SCC and the
mm) and/or a large aggregate pile in the
time required for the
centre of the concrete mass.

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 5

 material to follow out is recorded. The test can
also be completed with a second sample held in
the funnel for 5 minutes and the result V- funnel
time can be compared to the initial reading. This
test method evaluates the viscosity of the SCC and
its ability to flow through a restricted opening
without segregation. This test method is typically
used for product prequalification.
J-Ring Test – The same test procedure used in the
slump flow test is followed with the exception that
a J-ring device is placed at the base of the slump
cone. When the slump cone is then raised the SCC
must flow around the bars of the J-ring as gravity
consolidates the material. The J-ring simulates the
presence of reinforcing steel in the structure. This
test method is typically used for product
prequalification but may also be used for jobsite
acceptance.
L-Box Test – This test method is used to evaluate
the flow properties and passing ability of SCC
when confined by formwork and forced to flow
around reinforcing steel. The test method consists
of placing SCC inside the upper portion of an L-
shaped box and measuring the height of the
concrete once the gate is opened and the SCC
flows around the rebar and 800 mm down the
bottom of the L-box. This test method is only used
for product prequalification.
The typical remaining evaluation properties of SCC are
maximum w/cm ratio and compressive strength. The
maximum w/cm ratio requirements are met by the
concrete producer during the mix design development
stage and the compressive strength is evaluated using
standard CSA A23.1/.2 testing protocols (with the
exception of not consolidating the concrete sample during
casting).
SCC PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Self-Consolidating Concrete is less tolerant to changes in
properties and volumes of the raw materials used to
produce the mix than conventional concrete. It is therefore
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
very important that all aspects of the production and
placement process are carefully supervised.
From a concrete production standpoint, the following steps
should be taken:
The concrete plant and mixing/delivery equipment
shall all be RMCAO certified.
The concrete producer shall submit to the
contractor, for review by the owner, the
performance based mix design submission which
clearly indicates the performance properties of
the concrete.
The concrete producer will conduct any trial batch
testing and prequalification that is specified in the
contract or submit test results from a previous SCC
placement conducted within the last 12 months.
The concrete producer should designate, for each
3
placement over 50 m , a quality control technician
to monitor and evaluate the SCC product at the
plant or jobsite to confirm its suitability for use.
The next critical production issue is determining the
method of site acceptance at the project and the
associated acceptance criteria. This standard acceptance
process is for the contractor to inspect the delivery tickets
for each load of concrete to confirm the correct material
has been shipped to the project and then to conduct
concrete acceptance testing as per CSA A23.1/.2
requirements.
All concrete Field testing must be completed by a CSA or
ACI certified field technician as per CSA A23.1
requirements: all laboratory testing shall be completed by a
CSA Certified Concrete Laboratory. The standard
acceptance test method for SCC is the slump flow test and
VSI evaluation. The performance based mix design
submission will indicate the minimum and maximum slump
flow or the acceptable slump flow range for jobsite product
acceptance and the acceptable VSI values for concrete
placement (typically 0 & 1). This test method provides a
good indication of the uniformity of concrete supply and
6
allows for a visual assessment of potential mortar/paste
separation around the outside circumference of the
sample.
All CSA A23.1/.2 testing requirements must be followed to
ensure that the jobsite acceptance testing is properly
evaluating the performance of the SCC mixture.
SITE PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SCC
One of the key advantages to SCC is the fact that its high
flowability allows for rapid discharge on the jobsite with
minimal concrete placement labour required. The keys
ensuring proper concrete placement from a contractor
standpoint are:
Confirming that the proposed SCC mix design is
appropriate for the actual project site conditions
prior to ordering.
Selecting an appropriate delivery rate and time
with the concrete producer.
Clearly documenting the jobsite acceptance test
methods and ensuring that the owner, concrete
producer, contractor and testing company, are all
aware of the acceptance procedures (typically
slump flow testing).
Ensuring that the concrete placement crew is
aware of the significant differences between SCC
and conventional concrete prior to first working
with the material.
Ensuring that the formwork is properly designed
and constructed to both support the weight of the
concrete and to provide the necessary concrete
surface finish the Owner requires.
Site Control Tests
A quality control procedure for SCC involves first
confirming that the correct concrete mix has been shipped
to the project (via the delivery ticket) and then conducting
plastic concrete acceptance testing on the product.
Concrete acceptance testing usually involves:
Conducting slump flow testing and VSI evaluation
on each load of concrete. This confirms that the
minimum slump flow value has been achieved and
allows for a visual observation and rating of the
material.
Conducting plastic air content testing for exterior
concrete exposure conductions or when
compressive strength samples are cast.
Casting compressive strength test cylinders for
later hardened concrete testing. Cylinders are
filled in one lift without any internal consolidation
(rodding).
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
Mix Design Adjustments
In general, the site adjustment of SCC mix designs is
undesirable. SCC mixtures require a very high level of raw
material testing and batching accuracy at the concrete
plant and typically shouldn’t require any jobsite
adjustments. If special circumstances exist or if the mix
design requires unanticipated optimization to meet the
actual jobsite placement requirements then these
modifications should only be made by the concrete
producer. All site modifications made to the SCC mix must
be hand written on the concrete delivery tickets.
Site Supervision
It is critical that the site personnel receiving and placing the
SCC be properly trained and educated in the unique
requirements of this concrete product. In particular, the
placement crew should be aware of:
Formwork design considerations
The effects of vibration on the SCC mixture
The effects of stoppage during the concrete
placement
The maximum rate of concrete placement to
ensure that the formwork system isn’t overloaded
Visual checks should be made of the concrete to
ensure segregation is not occurring inside the
formwork
The requirements for placing SCC via a chute, a
bucket or a concrete pump
How to properly finish the surface of the SCC
What are the minimum curing requirements of
SCC
As stated later in this document, placement technique and
formwork quality are the key factors that dramatically
affect the quality of the surface finish of the concrete
element and while these skills can all be learned on the
jobsite, there are also opportunities to participate in
educational training sessions from the following Ontario
Associations:
Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario
Ontario General Contractors Association
Ontario Road Builders’ Association
Alternatively, your local RMCAO member concrete
producer may also offer product demonstrations and short
training sessions on the use of this product.
Formwork Design Considerations
The first thing to remember when it comes to SCC is the
fact that the structural engineer completing the formwork
design must design for a full liquid head condition. The
high flowability and rapid concrete placement properties of
7
SCC allow for exceptional concrete placement rates,
however the formwork has to be able to take the resulting
pressures that are generated. Because of this fact, a
controlled rate of pour formwork design is not typically
used and failing to recognize this fact prior to concrete
placement can result in serious formwork safety issues.
inspected prior to SCC placement. Failure to initially
recognize the flowing properties of SCC has resulted in
unnecessary concrete placement problems (forgetting to
seal around formwork penetrations or thinking that the
concrete placement is so far away that you still have time
to finish the formwork are common first time mistakes).

Secondly, it is possible Surface Quality of the Formwork Material

for formwork pressures
to exceed the full liquid One of the major benefits to SCC is the fact that it
head condition in some produces an outstanding concrete surface finish. The
applications. For forming contractor must, however, remember that SCC
example, concrete perfectly mirrors the quality of the formwork that it is cast
placement by pump against and the owner’s architectural expectations are
from the bottom of the often much higher for this product. Minor imperfections in
formwork is often concrete formwork might be hardly noticeable with
performed because of conventional concrete, but can stand out significantly
the reduced chance of when SCC is used. If the primary purpose for using SCC is
air bubble being trapped up against the formwork. to aid in proper concrete placement, and the concrete is
However, when placing the concrete using this method it is not visible in the completed project, this isn’t an issue. If,
possible for the formwork pressure to exceed the full liquid however, the concrete is exposed to view, things like
head of the concrete at the location of the injection port at residual concrete on reused formwork, grain patterns in
the bottom of the formwork. the forming material, and gaps in the formwork suddenly
stand out significantly when surrounded by a high quality
The concrete placement crew must also be aware that concrete surface finish.
since the SCC has such great flowing capabilities, it is
possible for buoyant forces to be placed on components of For commercial projects,
the formwork or embedded items that are located within it is best that any
the formwork. For applications where the
example, large size conduit SCC concrete is exposed
will exhibit buoyant forces to view be treated as
when the SCC is placed in architectural concrete
the formwork and must be elements in the contract
securely tied in place specifications. This allows
(envision a beach ball the concrete forming
riding on the surface of the contractor to account for the necessary quality of the
liquid SCC). formwork that will be used for these elements.

The concrete forming crew In order to address the forming surface finish issues many
must also be aware of the contractors utilize high quality steel forms, resin
highly flowable nature of impregnated form ply or commercial form liners, to
the SCC and the fact that provide the architectural quality that the owner has
while minor gaps in the specified. Impermeable, smooth and clean forming
formwork may result in surfaces usually produce the best surface finish.
concrete fins with
conventional concrete, SCC Formwork Release Agents
can rapidly flow through
these gaps resulting in The proper selection of form release agents for SCC
significant material loss projects is a critical activity for the formwork contractor
and clean-up costs. Also, since they can have a dramatic effect on the quality of the
since this material rapidly formed concrete finish. Greater care must also be taken
seeks to level itself due to when applying these materials since excess form release
gravity, the entire agents can result in staining and retention of air bubbles at
formwork system must be the formed surface.
fully constructed and

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 8

Vegetable, mineral or water based form release agents
need to be applied as thinly as possible and are often just
wiped on with a cloth rather than by using a hand sprayer.
Modification or cutting of the form release agents to
increase their coverage can also have very dramatic
negative consequences to the surface finish of the
concrete.
In applications where high concrete sections are being
formed, such as columns and bridge piers, the form release
agent not only has to be applied thinly but it must also
have a strong bonding ability to prevent it from being
pulled off the formwork due to the force of gravity. The
forming contractor not only must select the correct form
release agent for SCC, but they must also ensure that the
product adheres well to the formwork they are using
(wood, steel, plastic, fibre, etc.).
SCC mixtures are typically designed to allow entrapped air
to escape between the contact surface of the formwork
and the concrete itself. For this reason the form release
agent must be of a type that will allow air to migrate along
this surface and to be expelled at the top of the formwork.
When first utilizing SCC the contractor should contact the
form release agent supplier and confirm which of their
products works best with SCC. Trial placements and mock-
ups on larger projects can also be very useful for evaluating
the performance of the form release agent with the SCC
mixture.
Uncoated Wooden Formwork
Unless the owner is requesting “rough wood grain pattern”
for their SCC project, the formwork contractor should avoid
using dry uncoated wooden formwork that is strongly
absorbing and may result in discolouration, staining or
retarding of the concrete surface. Surface defects will also
often result during the formwork removal process where
the rough grain texture of the wood bonds to the concrete
or becomes trapped in the concrete and breaks off during
formwork removal.
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
Architectural form liners are also available if the owner
requires a high quality architectural pattern.
SCC PLACING & FINISHING
SCC is designed to provide both high cohesion and high
flowability under its own weight. This allows for rapid
concrete placement and flow characteristics without the
larger coarse aggregate segregating out of the mix. Because
of this, standard internal or external vibration is not
typically required to properly consolidate this material.
Failure to recognize this fact will result in the potential for
dramatic segregation of the material if the workers
continue to utilize conventional concrete consolidation
techniques. In short, don’t touch it! If it has been designed
and placed properly it will flow on its own. If minor rodding
is required to ensure complete flow this issue should be
raised directly with the concrete producer at the time of
placement.
With this said, it is still necessary for the concrete finisher
to continue to visually assess the quality of the SCC as it is
being placed in the formwork. The worker in this instance is
looking for potential segregation issues and wants to see
coarse aggregate uniformly spread throughout the entire
concrete placement and “floating” on the surface.
Once the concrete placement is complete, the concrete
finishers should examine the quality of the hardened
concrete looking for instances of surface laitance, a non-
uniform surface colour, specific areas where air bubbles
are being trapped on the formed surfaces and any other
unwanted defects. Addressing these issues that do arise
will involve reviewing the mix design performance, quality
of the formwork surfaces, ability of the form release agents
to work effectively and the placement method utilized for
the element.
High quality surface finishes are a significant architectural
benefit for the use of SCC, however they can only be
achieved when highly effective mix designs, concrete
formwork, and placement methods are utilized. If
everyone involved in the construction process does not
realize the importance of all these factors, the final product
will never meet its ultimate potential.
SCC Discharging
SCC can be placed utilizing most standard concrete
placement methods including: chute, buckets and concrete
pumps. While other placement methods like buggies and
conveyor belts may be used, the contractor must ensure
that the material is not vibrated to the point that the
coarse aggregate begins to separate out.
9
SCC shall be discharged within the 120-minute time Pumping SCC from the Bottom
requirement of CSA A23.1 unless the concrete producer Upwards
has taken the necessary steps to properly retard the
mixture. The excellent flow characteristics of SCC typically SCC’s performance properties
result in rapid truck unloading, and agitation action of the allow for unique concrete
concrete truck drum ensures uniformity and prevents placement methods. One of the
material segregation. most common special placement
methods is to install a fill port on
Placing Procedures and Rates the bottom of the formwork and
utilize a conventional concrete
Due to the rapid placement rate of SCC, it is extremely pump to place the concrete from
critical that all formwork, reinforcing steel and embedded the bottom up.
items be properly secured prior to the start of the
unloading process. The concrete must also be placed in This unique placement technique
such a manner that there is sufficient distance for the offers a number of technical
concrete to flow so that entrapped air can be removed advantages over vertical drop
from the material, but not so far as to risk material placement, since it reduces both
segregation. Generally, flow lengths of 10 metres or less the potential for material
are preferred to avoid these issues (this doesn’t mean that segregation and the amount of
longer lengths can’t be achieved, they just require entrapped air that must be
additional efforts and care). expelled from the concrete.

For large vertical elements care should be taken not to fill
the formwork too rapidly. The placement rate should be
slowed to the point that there is sufficient time for the
entrapped air to rise to the concrete surface. Since air
movement can only take place when the SCC is itself
moving into the formwork, slowing the placement rate may
assist in removing unwanted air pockets at the formed face
of the concrete. The placement process should also be
smooth and continuous since this helps maintain uniform
SCC flow and reduces surface marks and colour variations.
For this reason SCC is often placed using concrete pumps
with multiple concrete trucks supplying the feed hopper of
the pump.
Pumping SCC
Placing SCC using a concrete pump is one of the most
common placement methods. Pumping places the concrete
as close as possible to its final position and provides an
easily controlled rate of placement.
When placing SCC with a concrete pump the hose of the
pump should be placed inside the formwork and under the
concrete surface whenever possible. This installation
method both reduces the possibility of entrapping
additional air within the SCC and eliminates the potential
for material segregation due to free-fall around the
reinforcing steel and form hardware.
Pumping should provide a continuous even concrete rise
rate within the formwork with as few breaks in product
delivery as possible.
The contractor must design an injection port in the
formwork that is able to resist more than the total liquid
head force since concrete pumping pressures must also be
accounted for. The injection port is typically located at the
centre point of the formwork from a plan view standpoint
to equalize the horizontal movement requirements of the
SCC during the pumping process. Once the concrete
placement is complete, the valve on the injection port is
closed and the concrete is allowed to set. The port can then
be cut off at the form face to allow for formwork removal.
Placing Concrete Using Chutes
While concrete pumping is the preferred method for SCC
placement, concrete chutes can also be utilized. The basic
procedure is similar to conventional concrete placement
where chute placement takes place at the farthest location
and the chutes are moved or removed during the concrete
placement as the work proceeds to the other end of the
formwork. Care should be taken to minimize vertical drops
to 1.5 metres or less and to minimize horizontal flow to 10
metres or less.
Since SCC has such
high flowability, con-
ventional concrete
placement methods
that involve the
temporary removal of
formwork to allow for
concrete truck access
to the area (say on an
unreinforced

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 10

industrial floor slab cast on grade) cannot be used since the
concrete is so highly flowable.
Concrete Placement by Crane & Bucket
SCC placement has also been successfully completed using
concrete buckets on high rise construction projects. Some
of the key considerations for this placement method are
the following:
The bucket method significantly reduces the
potential placement rate of the product and is
typically only used for smaller volume placements
(concrete columns rather than suspended floor
slabs).
The slow placement rate can result in prolonged
periods of stagnation of the SCC within the
formwork. This can result in surface crusting and
can lead to visible horizontal marks between lifts.
The bucket must be in excellent condition and be
“water tight” or the SCC paste will easily flow
through the openings in the discharge gates.
The concrete bucket must not be shaken
excessively during the lifting process. Once the
concrete is discharged from the truck mixer there
is no way to properly agitate the concrete in the
bucket and over-vibration of the bucket has the
same effect as over-vibration of the formwork.
When SCC is placed in high thin elements, the
concrete should be placed with the use of an
elephant trunk or hose using a tremie placement
method. This significantly reduces the amount of
entrapped air that must be removed from the
concrete and leads to a higher quality surface
finish.
Vibration of SCC
Did we mention, “don’t vibrate SCC? Step away from the
concrete with that internal vibrator!” Vibration should
generally be avoided since it is likely to result in material
segregation, where the coarse aggregate sinks to the
bottom of the mix.
If, upon removal of the formwork, the concrete surface is
not as required, the contractor and concrete producer
should review the SCC specification requirements to see if
mix design changes could improve the result or if the
difficulties are due to some other factor.
The potential exceptions to the SCC “don’t touch it” rule
may include:
In some structures the formwork shape may result
in air being trapped at certain locations. This can
be addressed by localized tapping or rodding of
Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete
the area or potentially venting the area and
discarding the “vent concrete” later.
Slabs may require light tamping or vibration using
a screed bar to produce a level finish that does
not include protruding coarse aggregate. The
screed bar is therefore the only surface finishing
performed on the concrete.
If there is a break in the supply of SCC to the
project, surface crusting may occur. In this
instance, slight rodding can be used to remove
the potential for the formation of a cold joint or
surface discolouration.
Curing Requirements for SCC
While curing is obviously critical for all concrete
construction, this is especially true for the top surface of
SCC. Because of the increased quantity of paste, low
water/fines ratio and lack of bleed water at the surface,
SCC is highly susceptible to surface drying. This can result in
shrinkage cracks caused by early age moisture loss or
surface crusting.
Initial concrete curing shall conform to the requirements of
CSA A23.1 and should commence a soon as practically
possible. Initial protection period treatments such as fog
misting and evaporation retardants may also be useful in
addressing surface curing issues.
SCC APPEARANCE AND SURFACE FINISH
High quality concrete surfaces are what many owners
expect when SCC is used on their projects, but as this
document has identified, there are multiple factors that
affect the final surface quality of the concrete element.
The quality of the SCC surface depends on:
The mix composition of the product.
The quality of the formwork surfaces.
The quality of the formwork release agent and its
interaction with the SCC mixture.
The placing methods and procedures utilized.
The key architectural benefits that SCC mixes provide over
conventional concretes include:
More uniform colour.
Provides very sharp edges with the use of the
correct formwork.
Significant reduction in the number of bugholes
with the use of proper form release agents and
formwork quality.
Eliminates air pockets under horizontal formwork
elements when the concrete is properly placed.
Higher quality of surface finish.
11
The following list of defects can be found in all concrete
products, however with the proper amount of care and
consideration, can be significantly reduced with SCC.
Bugholes
Bugholes are small, regular or irregular cavities, usually not
exceeding 15 mm in diameter, resulting from the
entrapment of air bubbles in the surface of formed
concrete during placement and consolidation.
Entrapped air is introduced into all concrete during the
mixing, transportation and placement processes. The
extent to which the entrapped air can be removed or
stabilized within the SCC depends on the cohesion of the
mixture. In general, SCC mixtures with high slump flow and
low viscosity make it easier for the entrapped air to be
removed and provide the best surface finish.
Bugholes are also formed on concrete surfaces when air is
trapped between the formwork and the concrete. The
qualities of the formwork surface and the formwork
release agent therefore also have a significant impact on
their formation.
Entrapped air is also most easily removed if the SCC
mixture is slowly placed into the formwork and if it is
allowed to move laterally for two metres or more. For
these reasons pumping of the concrete from the bottom of
the formwork, as described previously, generally produces
the best surface finish. If this is not possible, tremie
concrete placement from the top of the formwork is your
next best option.

Troubleshooting Tips for Bugholes

Primary Causes Practical Reasons Preventative Measures
Heavy or uneven application of form release Minimal application evenly applied
agent
Rough formwork surface Clean formwork or install a geotextile form
Entrapped air liner to absorb air
Entrapped water Rapid placement rate Ensure slower and steady discharge
Entrapped form oil Too long a flow length Limit flow distance to < 5 metres
Low slump flow Too short a flow length Extend flow distance to > 1 metre
Interrupted delivery of concrete Plan for required delivery rate
Viscosity too high Reduce viscosity modifying admixture dosage
Slump flow too low (<600 mm) Increase slump flow

Honeycombing These issues in SCC are usually due to:

Utilizing too low of a slump flow.
Honeycombing is voids left in the concrete due to the The viscosity of the SCC mixture being too high.
failure of the mortar to effectively fill the spaces among the Using too large of a maximum coarse aggregate in
coarse aggregate particles. the mix.
Insufficient paste with the SCC mixture.
In SCC projects, honeycombing can also be caused by
leakage in the formwork at the joints, aggregate bridging,
and voids being left behind the reinforcing steel or form
hardware.

Troubleshooting Tips for Honeycombing

Primary Causes
Insufficient paste or fines
Concrete segregation due to too
low plastic viscosity
Concrete not able to fill that part of
the formwork
Practical Reasons
Low paste/fines content
Unsuitable aggregate gradation
Aggregate size too large relative to free
space within the formwork
Leakage of paste through the formwork
Placing SCC through an un-primed pump
hose or elephant trunk
Preventative Measures
Increase fines content
Add air entrainment
Use continuous aggregate gradation
Utilize a smaller maximum aggregate size
Inspect all formwork prior to concrete
placement and seal gaps at joints
Prime all surfaces whenever possible

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 12

Colour Changes
Vertical stripes at the SCC surface are rare and usually
caused by bleed water accumulating at the vertical mould
surface. As the bleed water flows upwards it causes wash-
out of the aggregate or flotation of the form oil which
leaves a visible stripe in the concrete.
The potential causes for SCC bleeding include:
Utilizing too low of a viscosity in the mix.
Low concrete temperatures during placing.
Retarded set times.
Other reasons for colour variation can include:
Uneven drying of the concrete surface (even
within the formed face of elements).
Over application of form release agents.
Use of form release agents that are incompatible
with SCC mixtures.
Variations it the raw materials used to produce
the SCC.

Troubleshooting Tips for Colour Changes

Primary Causes Practical Reasons
Concrete temperature too low
Too high slump flow and too low viscosity
Colour variations along the surface
Differences between SCC loads Retarding effect of admixture or form
Vertical stripes release agent
Changes in rate of pour
Utilizing plastic as curing method
Wooden formwork is absorbing paste
Viscosity too low or water content too high
Preventative Measures
Maintain concrete and in-form
temperatures during winter months
Increase viscosity via either increased fines
content or viscosity modifying admixture
Reduce retarder usage
Reduce water content
Consider using an accelerator
Use geotextile form liner
Ensure continuous rate of pour throughout
placement
Ensure uniform plastic contact with the
entire surface
Use coated formwork materials or pre-wet
wood before placement
Utilize viscosity modifying admixture
Increase viscosity via fine material addition
Consider the use of air entrainment

Surface Cracking of SCC
SCC, like traditional concrete mixes, is susceptible to plastic
settlement cracks over the reinforcing steel. This effect can
be increased when high surface finishes are required
because the mix design must be optimized to produce the
highest possible flow for this application (the mix will be
designed at the maximum aggregate segregation point to
begin with). These cracks are normally wide but not deep,
and can be addressed by trowelling the concrete surface to
close them prior to the concrete setting.
Because SCC has almost no bleed water, this product is also
more susceptible to plastic shrinkage cracking that is
caused when the top surface of the concrete rapidly losses
surface moisture. Protective systems like fog spraying and
early concrete curing can be used to address this issue as
well.

Troubleshooting Tips for Surface Cracking

Primary Causes
Rapid surface drying
Sedimentation
Reinforcing steel positioning
Practical Reasons
Poor curing practices during initial
protection period
SCC segregation and bleeding
Extreme ambient placement conditions
Deep formwork with reinforcement close to
the surface
Preventative Measures
Start curing immediately
Consider fog spraying
Close cracks prior to concrete setting
Utilize a viscosity modifying admixture
Consider air entrainment
Consider rescheduling placement
Minimize extreme temperatures, low
relative humidity or high wind conditions
Consider repositioning the reinforcing steel

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 13

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
In addition to the construction based reason to use SCC in
your project, there are a number of Sustainable
Construction items that should be strongly considered:
1. Noise reduction on-site for community and
local by-law issues.
2. Reduced R/M truck delivery time with faster
unloading.
3. Reduced overall R/M truck turnaround time.
4. Reduced truck traffic emissions.
5. Reduced R/M truck fuel consumption overall.
6. Reduced time for traffic control, street control
or enforcement and backup signallers.
7. Reduced project completion time with faster
construction.
Procurement – RMCAO ECO CERTIFIED Concrete Facility
Certification
This program is designed to provide owners and customers
with the highest degree of assurance that the concrete
facility, company and products they have selected to
supply their project, address sound and responsible
Environmental and Sustainable Development Facilities
management and operations, and that manufacturing
practices and protocols support their choice of Responsible
Material Procurement. It identifies Environmental and
Sustainable Development stewardship and responsibility of
the facility’s processes following LEED rating system and
categories to minimize the environmental footprint.
REFERENCES
The following documents have been utilized in the creation
of this publication:
CSA A23.1-04 – Concrete Materials and Methods
of Concrete Construction, CSA A23.2-04 - Methods
of Test and Standard Practices for Concrete –
Canadian Standards Association.
The European Guidelines for Self Compacting
Concrete – European Precast Concrete
Organisation, European Cement Association,
European Ready-Mix Concrete Organisation,
European Federation of Concrete Admixture
Associations and European Federation of Specialist
Construction Chemicals and Concrete Systems.
Self-Consolidating Concrete – Concrete Delivers –
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.
APPENDIX A

Visual Stability Index (VSI) – O – Highly Stable

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 15

Visual Stability Index (VSI) – 1 – Stable

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 16

Visual Stability Index (VSI) – 2 – Unstable

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 17

Visual Stability Index (VSI) – 3 – Highly Unstable

Best Practices Guidelines for Self-Consolidating Concrete 18